A motion for judgment as a matter of law is a procedure during trial in which a party who does not have the burden of proof on a claim (generally the defendant) or on a defense to a claim (generally the plaintiff) may ask the court to dismiss the claim or defense before the jury is allowed to decide it. The standard for dismissing such a claim or defense is whether no reasonable jury could find for the opposing party on the claim or defense. In the federal court system, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50.

In Maine, a motion for judgment as a matter of law is a legal procedure that occurs during a trial, where a party without the burden of proof (usually the defendant for a claim or the plaintiff for a defense) requests the court to decide on a claim or defense without submitting it to the jury. This is typically done after the opposing party has been heard but before the case is submitted to the jury. The standard for the court to grant such a motion is that no reasonable jury could find in favor of the opposing party based on the evidence presented. This is similar to the federal standard under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50. Maine's state court system follows its own procedural rules, which are aligned with the federal rules but may have specific state-level nuances. Therefore, while the general concept and standard for judgment as a matter of law are consistent with federal practice, it is important to refer to the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure for the precise application of this legal mechanism within the state courts of Maine.